ECOWAS Communiqué on the establishment of a regional fund to support under privileged litigants in the ECOWAS Court
ECOWAS Court of Justice
Mar 2015
The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, Honorable Justice Maria de Ceu Silva Monteiro has advocated the establishment of a legal aid fund in the region to support under-privileged citizens wishing to avail themselves of the services of the Community Court of Justice for cases under its jurisprudence.
ECDPM: Economic Partnership Agreements and Beyond
ECDPM
Oct 2014
The October/November issue of the ECDPM GREAT Insights Magazine is dedicated to the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), gathering a large diversity of viewpoints. After more than a decade of negotiations between West Africa and the EU, testimonies from stakeholders illustrate that there is still disagreement about the future outcomes of the EPA-West Africa compromise deal. While EU Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, highlights the mutually beneficial process of EPAs, representatives of the Network of Farmers' and Agricultural Producers' Organisations (ROPPA) warn about the detrimental impact that this political agreement might have on economic development and co-operation between Europe and Africa. “West Africa and Europe will emerge weakened by this agreement, as it fails to reflect the underlying needs of both parties”, ROPPA Executive Secretary Kalilou Sylla and Honorary President Mamadou Cissoko argue. They notably fear that the EPA might threaten agricultural growth and become a barrier for investment in West Africa, also resulting in significant tax losses.
UNODC Sahel Programme Progress Report
UNODC
Oct 2014
The October report of the UNODC Sahel Programme takes stock of progress made in the implementation of activities responding to five priority areas: 1. National legislation and international co-operation mechanisms; 2. Border control and interdiction; 3. Accountable and efficient investigation, prosecution and adjudication of criminal cases; 4. Scientific evidence in support of investigations and proceedings; and 5. Rehabilitation of imprisoned and/or detained terrorists. The Programme has been developed within the framework of the UN Regional Integrated Strategy for the Sahel 2013-17, which the UN Secretary-General launched in June 2013.
Communiqué: UEMOA attracts USD 19 billion from Arab Gulf companies
UEMOA
Sep 2014
The UEMOA Commission expressed its satisfaction with the outcomes of the inaugural West Africa Investment Forum (WAIF) held on 9 September in Dubai. “Investing in UEMOA is a winning investment”, was the key message sent to Arab Gulf investors who apparently were seduced by the proposed investment projects. They signed financial commitments worth USD 19 billion to support 16 out of 17 identified projects covering the eight UEMOA countries and meeting 88% of UEMOA’s goals.
Ebola outbreak puts harvests at risk, sends food prices shooting up
Fao
Sep 2014
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is having serious impacts beyond the health consequences. The FAO issued a warning on 2 September. According to the report, the current food shortages are likely to worsen with the evolution of the spread of the disease and quarantine measures taken by health authorities. In affected countries, including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, prices for some commodities have experienced significant surges.
UEMOA Communiqué : Invest in UEMOA
UEMOA
Sep 2014
The UEMOA Commission, together with its partners (BOAD, BCEAO, CREPMF, GFCL), will launch on 9 September in Dubaï the regional initiative "Investing in the UEMOA area" aimed at diversifying investment partners in support of the Union’s priority projects. 17 integration projects have been identified within the UEMOA Regional Economic Programme.
Turmoil in Southern Libya: a major threat for the Sahel region
GRIP
Aug 2014
Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, southern Libya has become the meeting point of numerous armed groups against a backdrop of the general breakdown of the State and regional and community fragmentation. Involved in a struggle to gain control over resources and monopolise power, militias and brigades active in the area have gradually interfered with transborder trafficking, causing concern in neighbouring countries, which fear a spread of conflict and tension to the sub-region as a whole.
CILSS, USAID: Road harassments in West Africa
CILSS/USAID
Sep 2014
The CILSS/USAID July report on road harassments maps major trading corridors for agricultural products in West Africa. It assesses the average number of checkpoints per 100 km, the average amount of illegal payments and delays.
Bulletin for agropastoral campaign monitoring
Agrhymet
Jul 2014
The third issue of the Agrhymet newsletter provides an overview of the region’s agricultural and pastoral situation. A series of maps describes the rainfall and hydrological conditions as well as crop prospects for the 2014-15 agricultural campaign. It concludes with a series of recommendations for agricultural producers and policy makers.
CILSS, FewsNet: Information note on food and nutritional situation
CILSS, FewsNet
Jul 2014
The smooth functioning of markets, stable food prices and prospects for an average agricultural campaign will ensure food security in the region during the lean season. In order to inform governments and other key decision-makers, the CILSS/FewsNet information note synthesizes key information on the current food and nutritional situation.
Cross-border trade of agricultural products and livestock in West Africa - May 2014
CILSS
Jun 2014
CILSS collects data through intra-regional trade for a more complete and accurate understanding of regional trade of commodities and to promote the West African regional trade in staple food commodities and livestock.
Re-mapping the Sahel: transnational security challenges and international responses
EUISS
Jul 2014
This report is based upon the research activities and seminars conducted by the EUISS within the framework of its Sahel Task Force between September 2013 and April 2014, focusing on the security situation in the Sahel region. It explores in further depth some of the key issues discussed: terrorism (including the threat posed by jihadist and Islamist militant groups) and other forms of organised crime in the region, the link between security and development challenges, as well as efforts to increase regional co-operation to tackle the complexity of the challenges in the Sahel.
IFAD Annual Report 2013
IFAD
Jul 2014
The report from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) provides and overview of the Fund's operational, administrative and financial activities during 2013. It also tells the stories of some of the people who were involved in IFAD projects – their challenges and successes. IFAD mostly focuses on investing in rural development. At the end of 2013, it managed some 52 programmes and projects in West and Central Africa, worth USD 1 billion, in partnership of 22 recipient governments in the region.
Progress towards the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel
UN
Jun 2014
The UN Secretary-General has told the Security Council that the Sahel region continues to demand the attention and support of the international community, despite some encouraging developments. Ban Ki-moon delivered his assessment of the implementation of the comprehensive UN strategy to ensure security and development in the Sahel. The report summarises achievements and challenges with respect to the three pillars of the strategy: governance, security and resilience. The Secretary-General welcomed the creation of a number of regional and sub-regional initiatives, including the G5-Sahel and the ECOWAS and AU strategies for the Sahel, but he said they underscored the need for effective co-ordination.
CORPAO 2014 final report
CILSS, CORPOA
Jun 2014
CILSS and its partners have published the final report from the 2014 edition of the Regional Conference on Opportunities for Trade in Agricultural and Food Products in the Sahel and West Africa (CORPAO). Held from 9-12 April in Abidjan, the meeting brought together representatives from 17 countries to examine the agricultural situation and development of regional markets for food products. The report presents the final figures for agricultural production in the 2013-14 crop year and offers recommendations to ensure the standards and quality of food produced in the region.
UEMOA Communiqué on Craft Code
UEMOA
May 2014
The UEMOA Commission organised an informational workshop on the Community Crafts Code from 26-28 May in Lomé. Adopted by the UEMOA Council of Ministers in March, the Code seeks to boost the development of the sector by creating an enabling institutional and regulatory environment, improving artisanal skills and facilitating public procurement of handicraft products. The Commission said the aim of the workshop was to increase understanding and ownership of the Code, a key component in efforts to promote traditional crafts as a key component of socio-economic development in UEMOA member states. Besides supporting job creation, the UEMOA department of tourism and handicrafts says the sector provides training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people, supports the development of local raw materials, and promotes cultural heritage and tourism. It is estimated that traditional crafts account for 10-20% of UEMOA's GDP, employing between 100 000 and 500 000 people
Better Policies for Development 2014
OECD
May 2014
This year’s edition of the OECD Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) publication focuses on illicit financial flows and their detrimental effects on development and growth. Every year, huge sums of money are transferred out of developing countries illegally. The numbers are disputed, but illicit financial flows are often cited as outstripping official development aid and inward investment. These flows strip resources from developing countries that could be used to finance much-needed public services, such as health care and education. This report defines policy coherence for development as a global tool for creating enabling environments for development in a post-2015 context.
2014 African Economic Outlook
AfDB, OECD, UNECA, UNDP
May 2014
The 13th edition of the African Economic Outlook was launched on 19 May at the African Development Bank Annual Meetings in Kigali. The report provides 2014-15 economic forecasts for 54 African economies. Besides the macroeconomic overview of country notes, the annual report also includes a special study on global value chains and Africa’s industrialisation. All data is also available within the AEO online platform at: http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/
UEMOA 4th High-level Committee on Food Security - Final Communiqué
UEMOA
May 2014
Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou personally welcomed agricultural ministers and high-level participants to the 4th session of the UEMOA High-level Committee on Food Security in Niamey on 9 May. The Committee examined the food situation in the UEMOA area and took stock of the implementation status of recommendations made during the 3rd High-level Committee meeting. The Committee members unanimously urged UEMOA institutions to implement immediate measures in support of vulnerable populations in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger and Senegal.
Detailed results of Harmonised Framework on food and nutrition situation
RPCA
May 2014
Validated at the last meeting of the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA), held from 14-16 April in Paris, the detailed results of the Harmonised Framework on the food and nutritional situation are now available. Under the Charter for Food Crisis Prevention and Management, the region has adopted the Harmonised Framework for analysing the food and nutritional situation, applying common criteria and relying on regional consultations and a network of national focal points in the participating countries. This exercise generates a consensual analysis shared by all stakeholders active in the region. The information note also presents the methodology and analytical difficulties. The process is conducted under the aegis of CILSS.
Detailed results of Harmonised Framework on food and nutrition situation
RPCA
May 2014
Validated at the last meeting of the Food Crisis Prevention Network (RPCA), held from 14-16 April in Paris, the detailed results of the Harmonised Framework on the food and nutritional situation are now available. Under the Charter for Food Crisis Prevention and Management, the region has adopted the Harmonised Framework for analysing the food and nutritional situation, applying common criteria and relying on regional consultations and a network of national focal points in the participating countries. This exercise generates a consensual analysis shared by all stakeholders active in the region. The information note also presents the methodology and analytical difficulties. The process is conducted under the aegis of CILSS.
USAID, ECOWAS officials brainstorm on food security
USAID, ECOWAS
Apr 2014
Article published by the Ghanian newspaper Daily Graphic on the regional conference on "Transforming Agriculture and Food Security through Regional and National Co-operation and Integration", organised by the USAID West Africa Regional Mission from 24-26 April in Accra. The meeting sought to deepen co-operation between West African states and regional organisations and identify opportunities to increase co-ordination among USAID implementing partners.
Press Release on USAID West Africa hosts regional partners meeting
USAID
Apr 2014
As part of President Obama’s Feed the Future Initiative (FTF), USAID West Africa organised a regional conference on "Transforming Agriculture and Food Security through Regional and National Co-operation and Integration", held from 24-26 April in Accra. High-level representatives from the region (ECOWAS, UEMOA, CILSS, CORAF/WECARD, The Hub Rural, etc.) participated in the meeting, which sought to deepen co-operation between West African states and regional organisations and identify opportunities to increase co-ordination among USAID implementing partners.
RPCA Summary conclusions, 16 April 2014
RPCA
Apr 2014
Some 120 RPCA members gathered from 14-16 April 2014 in Paris to assess the 2013-14 agro-pastoral campaign and make recommendations to address localised food crises. Despite a total cereal production of 57 million tonnes, Network members expressed concern about the food and nutrition situation, especially that of vulnerable populations : 28 out of 345 areas examined within the Harmonised Framework are already categorised as “critical food insecure”; they are located in Chad, The Gambia, Mali, Niger and Senegal. About 4.9 million people are currently in immediate need of assistance. Their number could reach 8 million people between June and August if no appropriate actions are implemented. RPCA members also discussed terms of reference for the first external evaluation of the Charter for Food Crisis Prevention and Management. Within the RPCA, AGIR stakeholders took stock of the status of implementation of the AGIR national inclusive dialogues. The 30th RPCA annual meeting will be held from 8-10 December in Lomé, Togo
Regional Food Security Reserve, Faisability Study
ECOWAS and partners
Jul 2012
Within the framework of the regional food security stockage strategy developed by ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS, the technical Ministerial Committee specialised in Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources formally endorsed the creation of a Regional Food Reserve on 28 September 2012 in Abidjan. This feasibility study, facilitated by the ECOWAS Commission and the Rural Hub, lays out the next steps toward making the reserve operational by mid-2013.
Nigeria's criminal crude: International options to combat the export of stolen oil
Chatham House
Sep 2013
Crude oil theft in the Niger Delta is more than just a domestic concern for the Nigerian government. Some of the stolen oil is destined for export, with proceeds laundered through the international financial system and profits supporting transnational organised crime. This Chatham House report examines the global dimensions of crude theft in Nigeria and offers recommendations for appropriate responses from the international community.
ICT and reproductive health in West Africa
AFD
Apr 2014
The French Agency for Development (AFD) explores the potential for leveraging the ICT revolution in Africa to improve reproductive health outcomes. Despite increased attention and investment, the majority of francophone West African countries are unlikely to achieve MGDs 4 and 5 concerning child mortality and maternal health before the 2015 target year. The paper catalogues the use of communications technology, particularly mobile phones, by healthcare actors in nine countries. Applications include disseminating health information, training of medical personnel and remote consultations. The paper concludes with recommendations on how to amplify the benefits and manage the risks associated with ICT in the health sector.
Dynamic industrial policy in Africa
AU, UNECA
Apr 2014
“Weak institutional structures and poor policy design have been at the root of Africa’s industrial policy problem throughout its post-independence history.” This statement is prepared by the UNECA and the AU Commission in their most recent “Economic Report on Africa”, which focuses on fostering industrialisation for structural transformation in Africa. In this joint publication, the two institutions analyse industrial policy in Africa to recommend ways to make it more dynamic. This requires innovative institutions and effective processes combined with flexible mechanisms. Industrialisation is a “precondition for Africa to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth”, the authors insist. They recommend the establishment of the modern infrastructure and logistics necessary for industrialisation, ensuring that the limited available resources are leveraged in sectors or clusters with “high potential for growth and value addition as well as for solid linkage development and related spillovers”.
Developing state capacity to prevent malnutrition in Sierra Leone
ODI
Apr 2014
Malnutrition remains a very serious problem in Sierra Leone. According to the Global Hunger Index, the country was among the top five hungriest states in the world in 2009. This analysis from the ODI examines the results of policies to eliminate malnutrition in Sierra Leone. The authors review various efforts and strategies of development partners to assess their relevance and impact on strengthening the capacity of the state. Despite the political commitment of the authorities to fight malnutrition, among the approximately 1 million children under five years of age, 22% are underweight, 44% are stunted or too short for their age, and 8% are too thin for their height, according to a multiple indicator cluster survey conducted in 2010. The prevention of food crises has an increasingly important role in strategies for food security.
2013 global food policy report
IFPRI
Mar 2014
The International Food Policy Research Institute has published its annual account of developments and debates in global food policy. The report chronicles a year in which food policy gained prominence on the international stage, with the convening of the Nutrition for Growth summit and the High-Level Consultation on Hunger, Food Security and Nutrition. In Africa, the 10th anniversary of the Maputo Declaration provided an opportunity for policy makers to assess progress on increasing agricultural investments. The report offers suggestions for the post-MGD agenda on food security, with the goal of eliminating hunger and undernutrition by 2025.
Road harassment, obstacles and barriers to regional trade in agricultural products
CILSS
Mar 2014
CILSS conducted surveys on road harassment along selected corridors during the month of January 2014. The data show high numbers of control points in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Niger. Rice traders and transporters paid average bribes ranging from USD 233 per 100 km in Burkina Faso to USD 693 per 100 km in Mali.
The UK's response to extremism and instability in North and West Africa
UK Parliament
Mar 2014
British MPs are recommending a larger diplomatic presence for the UK in the Western Sahel and the Maghreb to counter the recent surge in violent extremism. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons released the results of a yearlong inquiry into the UK’s engagement with the region since the January 2013 attack on a gas plant that killed six Britons in Algeria. The report calls for a co-ordinated international strategy to address the root causes of instability in the Sahel-Sahara region.
Cross-border trade flow in agricultural products in West Africa
CILSS
Mar 2014
CILSS collects data on intra-regional trade for a more complete and accurate understanding of regional trade of commodities and to promote West African regional trade in staple food commodities.
Understanding household economy in rural Niger
Save the Children - UK
Sep 2009
In response to the 2005 food crisis in Niger, this report includes household economy analysis profiles of five different livelihood zones in the Sahelian zone of Niger. It aims at improving the understanding of who is most at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition in Niger today, and why. It is an important tool for decision-makers to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2005, and to respond faster and more effectively in times of crisis.
Conceptualizing the mobility of space through the Malian conflict
CNRS, Rutgers University
Author: by Denis Retaillé, Professor of Geography, UMR ADESS, CNRS, University of Bordeaux and Olivier Walther, Visiting Assistant Professor, Division of Global Affaires, Rutgers University, USA
Jan 2014
The on-going Malian conflict has sparked renewed media and academic interest in the Sahel. This article shows how the various actors involved in the conflict, including nation-states Touareg rebels and Islamist terrorists have adopted mobile strategies, which are not effectively explained using traditional geopolitical analysis. Combining a long-term geographical analysis of the Sahelo-Saharan space and a social network analysis of the main actors involved in the conflict, our objective is to develop an alternative methodological approach primordially based on movement. This mobile space approach, we argue, is probably better suited for grasping the complexity of contemporary conflicts in the Sahel-Sahara than the traditional approach based on territories.
Undercurrents of Violence: Why Sierra Leone’s Political Settlement is not Working
IDS
Feb 2014
This IDS Policy Paper takes a closer look at the case of Sierra Leone which provides interesting insights into the limits of the political settlement of crises. Without concrete development benefits for the poor, any externally negotiated political settlement does not provide a lasting solution. Donor-driven governance reforms have failed to alter the political and economic structures of power. Failure to address fundamental issues around access to power, accountability regarding control of natural resources, and extreme poverty itself has resulted in marginalisation and disenfranchisement, and new forms of violence.
Rebuilding West Africa’s Food Potential
FAO, IFAD
Dec 2013
Policies and market incentives for smallholder-inclusive food value chains
Launched in December 2013, this new FAO/IFAD publication has a clear regional focus, namely the ECOWAS countries plus Cameroun and Chad. It aims to identify and delineate the key features of a new development model suitable for competitive and smallholder-inclusive staple food value chains. The rebuilding of West Africa’s food potential must be based on the triple objectives of enhancing productivity, fostering market-based competitiveness and ensuring smallholder inclusiveness.
Ungovernable spaces? Rebuilding a resilient pastoral economy in Northern Mali
IIED
Jan 2014
This paper published by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), argues that a regional approach is needed to rebuild the northern pastoral economy and links to southern Mali. Re-establishing connections, mobility and trade between the different communities will help contribute to peace and prosperity across the region. It will be essential to pursue a strategy that builds resilience at the heart of pastoral development.
What policies for the poor rural in the Sahel?
Inter-Réseaux
Jan 2014
The most recent issue of the Inter-réseaux magazine “Grain de sel” focuses on the rural poor in the Sahel. A large number of articles explore key food security issues, new approaches and challenges for rural livelihoods in the Sahel. The Global Alliance for Resilience – Sahel and West Africa (AGIR) and 3N Initiative of Niger are presented as examples for new resilience-building initiatives targeting the rural poor in the Sahel.
Cross-border trade flow in agricultural products in West Africa
CILSS/USAID
Jan 2014
This paper produced by a joint CILSS/USAID team analyses trade flows between Sahelian and coastal countries in November 2013. A map illustrates trade flows of the main agricultural commodities, cereals, roots, tubers and livestock. Detailed figures are provided for maize, millet, sorghum, rice and livestock trade flows. Niger is heavily dependent on cereal imports. It imported 39% of the total maize trade volume, 96% of the total millet trade volume and 85% of the sorghum trade volume.
Mali’s post elections challenges
Institute for Security Studies
Sep 2013
The installation of an elected government can be seen as the beginning of a resolution of the political and security crisis that has gripped Mali for nearly two years. Yet the country’s problems are far from over. This report from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) analyses the challenges and risks Mali must confront in the post-election period.
Road harassment report
CILSS
Sep 2013
The data published by CILSS were collected from July to August 2013 along the 1 371 km Bouake (Côte d'Ivoire)-Niamey (Niger) corridor, the 605 km Parakou (Benin)-Niamey grain trade corridor, the 1 004 km Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)-Paga to Kumasi-Accra (Ghana) and along the 565 km Pouytenga (Burkina Faso)-Parakou livestock route. The report reveals that abnormal practices are not only harmful to the national and sub-regional economies, but they also contribute to the rising cost of food and food products.
Sahel: Recurrent climate shocks propel migration; resilience efforts face challenges
Refugees International
Aug 2013
Rising temperatures and increasingly unpredictable rain patterns are forcing many residents of the Sahel region to migrate to other areas in search of more stable conditions. Based on field research in Burkina Faso and Niger, this report from Refugees International examines the policy implications of this emerging form of “distress migration”.
Structural change in the economy of Nigeria
International Food Policy Research Institute
Jul 2013
This Working Paper from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) examines the evolution of the Nigerian economy between 1996 and 2009. During this period, West Africa’s largest economy experienced significant structural transformation, with labour leaving the agriculture, wholesale and retail sectors in favour of manufacturing, communications, transportation and services.
Sahel Crisis 2013: Funding Status as of 26 July 2013
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Jul 2013
The UN humanitarian agency has reported that its appeal for humanitarian aid for nine countries in region was only 38% funded as of 26 July. UN agencies and other humanitarian groups are seeking USD 1.71 billion to support programmes to help 10.3 million people affected by food and nutritional insecurity, conflict and displacement in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. So far, 49 countries have answered the call, providing USD 650 million.
The water resource implications of changing climate in the Volta River Basin
International Water Management Institute
Jul 2013
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has published a paper examining the potential impacts of climate change on food and energy production in the Volta River Basin. The Volta River supplies the water needs of more than 24 million people in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo. It also hosts a number of major water management and hydropower development projects, such as the Akosombo Dam in Ghana and Lake Volta, the world’s fourth largest reservoir by volume. The IWMI report uses climate and hydrological modelling to identify and quantify the potential threat that climate change poses to existing and planned development projects.
Note on the EU strategy for security and development in the Sahel
Africa Governance Institute
Jul 2013
Published by the Africa Governance Institute, this paper presents recommendations on the 2011 EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel and aims to prepare African stakeholders for future discussions on the subject.
Financial Depth in the WAEMU: Benchmarking Against Frontier SSA Countries
Jul 2013
This working paper asserts that financial depth, defined as the ratio of private credit to GDP, is key to overall economic growth. The study concludes that financial development in the UEMOA zone is lagging behind other regions of sub-Saharan Africa, largely due to policy and institutional factors.
Sahel Regional Strategy Mid-Year Review 2013
UNOCHA
Jul 2013
Humanitarian agencies have revised upward their appeal for funds to help people affected by food insecurity and conflict in nine Sahelian countries. The mid-year review of the 2013 Sahel Strategy from UNOCHA appeals for USD 1.72 billion to fund programmes targeting food insecurity and acute malnutrition in Burkina Faso, northern Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, northern Nigeria and Senegal. The new figure represents a 3% increase over the USD 1.66 billion requested in January.
19th ECOWAS-EU Dialogue, Communiqué
ECOWAS, EU
May 2013
The 19th EU-ECOWAS Political Dialogue Meeting at Ministerial Level took place on 16 May 2013 in Brussels under the Co–Chairmanship of H.E. Charles Koffi Diby, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d'Ivoire and Chairman of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and H.E. Mr Joe Costello, TD, Minister of State for Trade and Development of Ireland on behalf of the EU. West African and European Ministers discussed the West African security situation, economic integration, food security and governance issues.
UEMOA Communiqué : UEMOA advances plans to drill 1 600 boreholes
UEMOA
Apr 2013
UEMOA ministers in charges of water approved a draft roadmap for a project to construct 1 600 new boreholes across the UEMOA area. The roadmap outlines next steps for the second phase of a rural water programme that seeks to advance progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals regarding access to water and sanitation services.
West African agriculture and climate change: A comprehensive analysis
IFPRI
Apr 2013
This book from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) attempts to fill the gap in scientific information needed to inform agricultural policy in the face of a changing climate. Produced in collaboration with the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD), and the CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), the book is the first in a three-part series that will also address agricultural and climate change concerns in Central and East Africa.
Resilience: Learning the lessons
Oxfam
Apr 2013
The international response to the 2012 food crisis in the Sahel showed significant improvements over previous emergencies, but further progress is needed to prevent and manage future crises and build resilience in the region. That is the conclusion of this Oxfam Briefing Paper, which examines how lessons from previous food crises impacted the humanitarian response in 2012.
Africa's Pulse: Economic growth and poverty reduction
The World Bank
Apr 2013
Poverty on the African continent is indeed declining, according to the latest edition of Africa's Pulse. There has been significant progress towards achieving some MDGs (infant mortality rate, maternal mortality) over the past decade. The report notes that if economic growth is maintained and the necessary reforms are implemented, Africa could achieve its development goals shortly after 2015.
RPCA Policy Note: Food Security and Nutrition in the Sahel and West Africa
RPCA
Apr 2013
This Policy Note presents the main recommendations from the 28th RPCA Annual Meeting which was held within the framework of the first Sahel and West Africa Week from 4-6 December 2012 in Ouagadougou. Network members assessed the regional food and nutritionalsituation and prospects, and made recommendations for national, regional and international policymakers. This year's thematic focus was placed on the topic of"water management and food security". Moreover, the RPCA meeting provided the framework for the launching of the Global Alliance for Resilience - Sahel and WestAfrica (AGIR).
UEMOA Communiqué: France grants EUR 40 million to support UEMOA integration
UEMOA
Apr 2013
The UEMOA Commission and the government of France have signed a EUR 40 million grant agreement to support the second phase of the Union’s Regional Economic Programme (PER). UEMOA Commission President Cheikhe Hadjibou Soumaré signed the accord with the French Ambassador to Burkina Faso, Emmanuel Beth, and Robert Moulie, Deputy-Director of the Africa Department at the French Development Agency (AFD), on 28 March in Ouagadougou. France has been a supporter of the PER since its launch in 2005.
Human Development Report 2013: The rise of the South
UNDP
Mar 2013
The UNDP annual report, launched on 14 March, has "The rise of the South" as its special theme and analyses the profound transformations that the southern hemisphere is provoking in the 21st century and the emergence of a "new global middle class". As every year, the report is completed with a "country by country" assessment of progress and a solid statistical database. West African countries generally maintain their position at the bottom of the rankings of the Human Development Index. Niger ranks last, occupying the 186th place.
The Sahel Crisis: Where do European and African perspectives meet?
IES, Egmont Institute, Observatoire de l’Afrique
Mar 2013
This Policy Brief highlights the main findings of a meeting co-organised by the Institute for European Studies, the Egmont Institute and the Observatoire de l’Afrique, which was held on 27 February 2013 in Brussels. Participants emphasised the multidimensional nature of the conflict and the importance of taking into account the regional level. They recognised that the current crisis can not be resolved without the participation of all stakeholders, including Algeria and Libya. In conclusion, the Policy Brief highlights the limits of an international response and that the conflict is a protracted one that has only just begun.
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2013
Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)
Mar 2013
This study from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) offers an alternative perspective on global poverty and measures progress toward reducing its impact. Researchers examined 22 countries and found that progress in reducing income poverty did not necessarily correlate with a reduction in multidimensional poverty. For instance, Ghana made significant progress in reducing multidimensional poverty, outpacing progress in reducing income poverty. Senegal was cited for reducing the “intensity” of poverty, the number of deprivations people faced simultaneously.
UEMOA Communiqué, 31st Ordinary Session CIP
UEMOA
Mar 2013
The 31st Ordinary Session of the UEMOA Inter-Parliamentary Committee (CIP) was held from 3-14 March in Dakar. Following the renewal of the parliamentary bodies of the UEMOA, the participants discussed various annual reports, including the CIP report and the UEMOA Commission annual report on the implementation of reforms and community programmes; specific actions for the development of the Union; and future prospects.
UEMOA Communiqué, Council of Ministers, 22 March 2013
UEMOA
Mar 2013
The UEMOA Council of Ministers, held on 22 March 2013 at the BCEAO in Abidjan, focused on a review of monetary, economic and financial conditions in the Union. According to the UEMOA press release, the Union’s GDP growth rate stood at 5.8% in real terms, after growing 0.6% in 2011. Despite this good performance, the economic recovery remains fragile, while inflation in all Member States has been contained, with a rate of 2.3% in January 2013.
Transnational Organized Crime in West Africa: a Threat Assessment
UNODC
Feb 2013
This UNODC report looks at six areas of criminal activity: cocaine-trafficking; methamphetamine production; migrant-smuggling; firearms-trafficking; fraudulent essential medicines; and maritime piracy. While the flow of cocaine through West Africa has considerably declined to about 18 tons (compared to 47 tons in 2007), there are many other forms of organised crime that threatens the sub-region. These threats are both a cause and a consequence of weak governance. The report recommends: 1) to conduct commodity-specific programmes to reduce contraband flows and the damage they inflict, and 2) more general efforts to enhance the rule of law and reduce corruption in the region.
Global Risk Atlas 2013
Maplecroft
Feb 2013
The 5th edition of the annual Global Risks Atlas, published by an UK-based think tank, analyses 36 risk factors in 179 countries. West Africa is experiencing the highest regional increase in risks to investors due to security risks from militant Islamists, exacerbated by poor governance and the cross-border illicit economy, with immediate implications for neighbouring countries in North Africa.
Agricultural investments and land acquisitions in Mali: Context, trends and case studies
IIED
Author: Moussa Djiré with Amadou Keita and Alfousseyni Diawara
Jan 2013
This report analyses national trends in investment flows and patterns in Mali; it assesses the adequacy of the legal and institutional framework regulating land and investment. Two examples of more inclusive investments provide insights on the potential and challenges of making more inclusive investment models work in practice.
Resilience: a Trojan horse for a new way of thinking?
ECDPM
Author: Frauke de Weijer
Jan 2013
Resilience has become a buzz word in international co-operation, but what is actually meant by resilience? “If the notion of “resilience” is ultimately used in a linear fashion, that is to say, if we believe that we can induce change from outside and in a linear fashion, the Trojan would have failed in its mission,” warns the author Frauke de Weijer. He calls for the development of a more holistic and multi-sectoral vision of change and greater recognition of existing endogenous capacities as a lever for change.
Algeria, the Sahel and the current Mali crisis
CIDOB
Author: Laurence Aïda Ammour, Chercheur
Jan 2013
This note analyses relations between Algeria and Mali and the impact on the current crisis in Mali. According to her analysis, Algeria considers Mali as the “weakest link in the chain” of countries engaged in the fight against AQIM. Algiers clearly doubts the capacity of the Malian government to effectively fight against AQIM. On the Malian side, there are suspicions over the alleged role Algiers played in the Touareg rebellions. Yet for centuries Touareg communities and other local ethnic groups have shared a cross-border space that largely escapes the authority of the national state. Beyond the climate of distrust that reigns between Bamako and Algiers, any analysis must take account of this cross-border reality.
Sahel Regional Strategy 2013
UNOCHA
Dec 2012
The UNOCHO 2013 Regional Strategy for the Sahel provides a summary of the humanitarian needs of countries in the region, notably Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The strategy aims to provide a common approach, which requires a shared responsibility in relation to the regional context and the analysis of the current situation. Funds required to implement the strategy amount to USD 1.66 billion.
Africa Can Help Feed Africa: Removing barriers to regional trade in food staples
World Bank
Oct 2012
With recent crises including the current one in the Sahel and the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa, the continent is typically seen as beset with chronic food insecurity. Yet a new report from the World Bank argues that Africa has the capacity to feed itself, and the key to unlocking this potential is regional trade.
Doing Business 2013: Smarter regulations for small and medium-size enterprises
World Bank, ICF
Nov 2012
West African countries are making steady progress in improving the regulatory environment for private sector development, according to the latest "Doing Business" report from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank. The 2013 report is the 10th edition of the "Doing Business" series, which analyses government policies impacting businesses in various aspects, including start-up and taxation.
Humanitarian Exchange: The crisis in the Sahel
ODI
Oct 2012
The September issue of Humanitarian Exchage magazine includes a special feature on the food and nutritional crisis in the Sahel. The magazine, published by the Humanitarian Practice Network of the UK Overseas Development Institute (ODI), takes an indepth look at both acute and chronic food insecurity in the region.
Food security and humanitarian implications in West Africa and the Sahel
FAO/WFP
Oct 2012
Published jointly with the WFP and the FAO, the September-October note finds that overall prospects for the current growing season are favourable, with the exception of a few localised concerns. This should lead to improved food security for producers and lower prices for consumers.
The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012
FAO
Oct 2012
Using an improved methodology to calculate the number and proportion of undernourished people around the world, the FAO/UN report finds that progress over the past 20 years has been stronger than previously believed. Most of the gains were recorded before 2007/2008, and the FAO reports that progress has slowed or level off since then.
2012 Global Hunger Index: The Challenge of Hunger
IFPRI
Oct 2012
Ensuring Sustainable Food Security under Land, Water and Energy Stresses
West African countries are listed among the best and worst performers in the 2012 Global Hunger Index (GHI). The annual report from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide offers a multidimensional analysis of global food security and this year highlights the urgent need for sustainable management of land, water and energy resources.
Regional quality standards for food staples in Africa
The World Bank
Sep 2012
It has become accepted doctrine among development practitioners that the harmonisation of food quality standards with international specifications will allow poor countries greater access to Western markets. This trade policy note from the World Bank takes issue with this widely-held belief and offers some alternative approach to regional standards management.
GREAT Insights: CAADP and Food Security
ECDPM
Sep 2012
The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) has dedicated the September issue of its GREAT Insights magazine entirely to the subject of food security in Africa. The publication features an interview with Martin Bwalya, Head of the NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), discussing the programmes successes to date, its methods for measuring success and its challenges going forward.
Valuation of local products: challenges and a variety of solutions
Inter-reseaux Développement rural
Aug 2012
This 58th edition of Grain of Salt examines the various challenges facing the promotion of local products in West Africa.
Livestock sector development for poverty reduction: an economic and policy perspective
FAO
Author: FAO
Sep 2012
This evidence-based analysis highlights the role that the livestock sector can play in sustaining livelihoods and spurring economic growth. However, it warns that the specific context of each country means that a blueprint approach to policy and institutional change does not work: Identifying the most appropriate institutional and policy reform requires making space for experimentation and learning from the associated successes and failures.
Status of financial education in Africa
OECD
Jul 2012
This OECD report provides an overview of the status of financial education programmes developed in Africa, discusses their rationale, and offers initial guidance for policy makers. In recent years public authorities, as well as the non-profit and the private sector, engaged in the development of financial education programmes in several African countries. These programmes typically aim at improving financial knowledge and skills, raising awareness of financial issues, and improving financial inclusion. They usually target vulnerable groups, including low-income people, women, and youth, and sometimes deliver financial literacy training in combination with access to financial products.
Energy price shocks: sweet and sour consequences for developing countries
Overseas Development Institute
Sep 2012
This ODI paper discusses the effects of recent energy price changes on developing countries. It reviews the transmission channels between energy prices and growth and distribution in developing countries based on the most recent literature; employs a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to identify the most vulnerable countries; and presents three brief country case studies analysing policy responses to oil shocks in more detail (Nigeria, Malawi and Ghana).
A coherent EU strategy for the Sahel
EU - Parliament
Author: Dr Luis SIMON, Institute for European Studies and others
Jun 2012
The Sahel region constitutes Europe’s southern geopolitical border. Any instability there will eventually find its way into the European neighbourhood and Europe itself. The present study examines the main challenges affecting the region and offers a critical evaluation of the 2011 EU ‘Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel’. The strategy identifies the lack of governmental capacity and systemic poverty as the key challenges the region faces and rightly points to concerted action in the security and development domains as the way forward.
Policy Framework for Investment in Agriculture in Burkina Faso
OECD
Author: OECD
Jun 2012
This is the first evaluation of Burkina Faso's agricultural policies to attract more and better investment in agriculture. Within the context of the ongoing global debate on land grabbing, it provides a comprehensive review of agricultural investment policies in Burkina Faso. This government-wide evaluation - covering 17 ministries and institutions as well as the private sector - identifies both short- and medium-term measures to improve and strengthen Burkina Faso's capacity to design policies. The evaluation was conducted by the Burkina Faso Ministry of Agriculture, with the support of the NEPAD-OECD Africa Investment Initiative and the Sahel and West Africa Club, based on the Policy Framework for Investment in Agriculture (PFIA) draft.
IFPRI 2011 Global Food Policy Report
International Food Policy Institute
Author: International Food Policy Institute
May 2012
The Global Food Policy Report presents data on national government initiatives on climate change, nutrition and land degradation. It concludes by outlining four priority areas of action for 2012: further steps to rein in food price volatility should be taken by the G20; global and regional agricultural growth strategies should strengthen institutions and their capacities to make these strategies work; the Rio+20 meeting should integrate economic, social and environmental sustainability measures and commit to concrete action; and a broad multi-sector coalition should work together to address nutrition, food and health.
The global land rush: what the evidence reveals about scale and geography
International Institute for Environment and Development
Author: International Institute for Environment and Development
May 2012
The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)’s policy briefing calls for a system wide standardisation of the methodology used to collect data on timeframe, land use, deal size, and status of deals, in order to compare cross-nationally. The report concludes that “a better understanding of the trends, drivers and key players is critical to facilitate informed debate, shape effective policy responses, and promote transparency and accountability in agricultural investment.”
Executive summary, International Engagement in Fragile States
OECD
Author: OECD
Nov 2011
The principles for good international engagement in fragile states and situations (FSPs) provide a framework to guide international actors in achieving better results in the most challenging development contexts. In 2011, the Second FSP Monitoring Survey was conducted in 13 countries, including five West African countries: Chad, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo.
Africa’s Pulse: an analysis of issues shaping Africa’s economic future
World Bank
Author: World Bank
May 2012
The World Bank notes that Sub-Saharan Africa continues to grow at a rate of nearly 5 percent and has seen a reduction in the number of people living in poverty – a first for the region. Data on West Africa indicates that resource-rich countries have been amongst the fastest growing economies in 2011. Additionally, Mali, Niger and Sierra Leone saw some of the largest percentage point declines in poverty. However, declines in export values after a global deceleration of industrial production have affected several countries. Food insecurity continues to be a problem in the Sahel. The Africa Pulse predicts that African growth will reach 6.4 percent in 2012.
International Land Coalition: Land Governance in Africa
International Land Coalition
Author: Kojo Sebastian Amanor
Jun 2012
Placed within a historical context, this report expands on the current debate on land policies in Africa. It outlines innovations that have developed in non-state land administration, major policy directions in different contexts, and efforts to implement new approaches to the “land question” among particular groups, such as community organisations. It concludes by proposing a framework that would minimise social conflicts over land, ensure greater transparency in land management, and ensure that small land holders and other customary land users can continue making important contributions to the national economy and to their communities.
ECDPM: Can the Pan-African Programme revitalise the JAES?
ECDPM
Author: Faten Aggad-Clerx and Nicola Tissi
Jun 2012
This Briefing Note lays out the the potential that a new 1 billion euro package, called the “Pan-African Programme (PAP),”can have to support the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES). The PAP aims to support the implementation of the JAES with a focus on added value of cross-regional and continental activities. It highlights the need for political decisions to be taken regarding European engagement with Africa, as well as some of the opportunities and challenges presented in the Commission’s proposal. The authors argue that the PAP should be flexible enough to accommodate contributions from EU member countries, African countries, international financial institutions and the private sector.
Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals
World Bank
Author: World Bank
May 2012
The World Bank Global Monitoring Report 2012 summarizes the effects of food prices on several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). High food prices lead to higher undernourishment, weaker global growth and impeded progress toward the MDGs. The report reviews policy responses—including domestic social safety nets, nutritional programs, agricultural policies, regional trade policies, and support by the international community. The report calls for regional trade integration; appropriate regulations allowing for cross-border movement of services suppliers; competitive regionally integrated services markets; and build the institutions that are necessary to allow small producers and traders to access open regional markets.Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals
ECOWAS Statement on Mali - 14 May 2012
ECOWAS
May 2012
In the ECOWAS Statement of 14 May, the ECOWAS Commission expresses deep concern on CNRDRE statements which seem to be “clearly designed to disrupt the political transition and further destabilize the situation in Mali”. It urges the CNRDRE to respect framework agreement of 6 April which outlines the transitional arrangement between the junta and the new transitional government. In case that the transition process is further hold up, ECOWAS leaders threaten to reestablish targeted sanction again the CNRDRE and their civilian allies. ECOWAS defence ministers who gathered in Abuja on 14 May also reconfirmed the readiness of the ECOWAS Standby force for deployment to protect humanitarian corridors and assist in the efforts to recover the territorial integrity, as soon as a formal request from the Malian government is received.
ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit Final Communiqué, Abidjan, 26 April 2012
ECOWAS
Apr 2012
ECOWAS Heads of State and government reaffirm the fundamental principle of “Zero Tolerance” for power obtained or maintained by unconstitutional means, as well as the role of the military in a Democracy, as enshrined in the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The ECOWAS Authority decides to deploy an ECOWAS Standby Force in Mali and Guinea-Bissau and calls for elections within a 12-month transitional period. Targeted sanctions against Guinea-Bissau were taken following failed talks.
Plan of Action of the ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy (2012-2017)
ECOWAS
Mar 2012
To facilitate the implementation of the ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy approved on 9 MArch 2012 in Cotonou, the ECOWAS Commission has developed a Plan of Action for the 2012-2017 period. This action plan outlines seven strategic objectives, focusing on the development of appropriate legal and policy frameworks, institutional capacity building at the national and regional levels as well as the involvement of civil society and the media.
ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy
ECOWAS
Mar 2012
The ECOWAS Humanitarian Policy and Plan of Action were approved at an experts meeting in Cotonou on 9 March 2012. The overall objective of the policy is to predict, prevent and manage disasters and conflicts, and enhance the protection and social situation of all West African citizens. The ECOWAS Humanitarian Response Mechanism and the Humanitarian Relief Fund aim to strengthen humanitarian response capacity through improved co-ordination and sustainable funding. Amidst the unravelling political crises in Guinea-Bissau and Mali, natural disasters and widespread epidemics in the region, the Humanitarian Policy seeks to standardise humanitarian action in ECOWAS member states “by fostering a balanced linkage between humanitarian action, human security and human development throughout the ECOWAS space based on the principle of regional solidarity.”
Emerging good practice in combating the worst forms of child labour in West African cocoa growing communities
ICI & SWAC/OECD
Nov 2011
Building on collaborative work conducted by the SWAC Secretariat in collaboration with the International Cocoa Initiative, this guidebook gathers together the experiences and ideas from representatives of governments, organisations and agencies active at different stages along the cocoa supply chain as well as from men, women and children living in cocoa growing communities. It outlines seven key messages and identifies some emerging good practices from existing interventions in the hope of contributing to their proliferation. It reflects on the roles and responsibilities of those concerned to encourage greater clarity, co-ordination and collaboration in the coming years.
Investment and regulation of large-scale land transactions in West Africa
ILC & SWAC/OECD
Nov 2011
This joint report from the International Land Coalition (ILC) and the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) analyses large-scale land transactions in five West African countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Senegal). While land investments are an important source of financing for the agricultural sector and for agro-industrial development, it carries with it some definite risks for small agricultural producers. Existing laws and regulations should, therefore, be better structured and developed, particularly in relation to population displacement; currently, families that have to relocate are only minimally compensated, if at all. The recommendations made in this report notably include the creation of national land observatories as well as a regional land observatory that “would contribute to information-sharing and best practices and would help draw the attention of the public sector." Creating a regional land Charter could then lead to the development of regional land management that would benefit from the diverse experiences of the different West African countries. The document is available in French only.
China and Nigeria: a powerful South-South alliance
SWAC/OECD
Author: Margaret Egbula, Qi Zheng
Nov 2011
China’s growing involvement in the African continent has drawn intense scrutiny of traditional partners and raises the question of whether or not collaboration is beneficial for African countries and their development goals. No bilateral China-Africa relationship is evolving faster, or impacts more people, than the one between China and Nigeria. The Asian giant going global meets the African giant who aims to become one of the world’s top 20 economies. This paper, co-authored by two young professionals from China and Nigeria, analyses the political, economic and social impact of this powerful South-South alliance.
Strategy 2011, Development Cooperation: A French Vision
AFD
Nov 2011
This document proposes to redefine the objectives of French policy on development cooperation, serving the interests of France and its closest partners, but also of general interest that transcends borders and which is supported by the international community is a shared duty.
Perspectives on Global Development 2012: Social Cohesion in a Shifting World
OECD
Author: OECD
Nov 2011
This report analyses the impact of "Shifting wealth" on social cohesion, largely focusing on high-growth converging countries. A "cohesive" society works towards the well-being of all its members, creates a sense of belonging and fights against the marginalization within and between different groups of societies. The question this report asks is how does the structural transformation in converging economies affect their "social fabric", their sense of belonging or put generally their ability to peacefully manage collective action problems.
Analysis of trade policies in West Africa
Afd
Author: Jean-Pierre Rolland; Arlène Alpha
Jun 2011
The study aims to identify the key activities designed to strengthen the regional coherence of trade policies in West Africa. It looks at different levels of trade policies, definitions, the state of implementation and objectives set to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. National trade policies (Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Senegal) and regional trade policies (UEMOA, ECOWAS) are also analysed and compared. (The study is available in French only).
Social safety net project in West Africa - Annexes - A-K
ECOWAS/RAAF
Jan 2015
Annexes including information on how to complete the application dossier. Deadline: 20 March 2015.
The management of cross-border areas in the Sahara-Sahel: Between living spaces and « grey areas»
GRIP
Jan 2015
This analytical note by Bérangère Rouppert of the Belgian Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security (GRIP) highlights the different security approaches by regional and extra-regional actors that are being applied to cross-border areas in the Sahara-Sahel. There are two opposing views. One considers the border as a fixed line that should be strictly controlled. This is the vision conveyed by the Sahel states and their partners outside of the region. The other vision considers the Sahara-Sahel areas, in particular the border areas, as open and dynamic spaces. This vision is shared by the local people, nomads, migrants, irregular armed groups and even some state actors.
The European concept of “comprehensive approach” challenged by the Sahel crisis
GRIP
Aug 2014
This analytical note published by the Group for Research and information on peace and security (GRIP) identifies co-ordination, coherence, effectiveness and sustainability as key challenges that Brussels and Delegations face to give life to the constantly evolving European concept of comprehensive approach. The European Strategy for development and security in the Sahel is the first European External Action Service strategy of comprehensive approach for a region. The EU has a wide range of policies, tools and instruments to simultaneously address the issues of security and development at the regional level.
Intra-regional trade flow of agricultural products in West Africa
CILSS, USAID
Sep 2014
The July report analyses cross-border trade flows of main cereals (maize, millet, sorghum, cowpea and paw boiled rice) as well as livestock (cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys). The total value of trade on the corridors and markets of agricultural products and livestock surveyed by CILSS in July 2014 was approximately USD 31.08 million compared to USD 36.44 million in June 2014.
Communiqué, 34th ordinary session of the UEMOA Inter-Parliamentary Committee (CIP)
UEMOA-CIP
Aug 2014
The 34th ordinary session of the UEMOA Inter-Parliamentary Committee (CIP) closed on 22 August in Abidjan. Deputies examined the 2014 budget report and reviewed the work orientations for 2015, in line with the 2012-20 Strategic Plan and the UEMOA Regional Economic Programme. The 2015 programme foresees a community budget of 3.2 billion CFA francs.
World Bank: CPIA Africa 2013
Banque mondiale
Jul 2014
The results of the World Bank assessment of national policies and institutions were presented 26 June in Dakar. They cover 39 African countries eligible for assistance from the International Development Association (IDA) savings, the financing fund for the poorest countries housed at the World Bank. While the overall score for Africa was unchanged at 3.2, the report underscores that the CPIA in the sub-Saharan region has seen some improvement. "Deepening reforms of its public policy in multiple areas allowed Rwanda to improve its rating and reach the top of the standings with 3,9, alongside Cape Verde and Kenya. Burkina Faso, Senegal and Tanzania are ranked just behind, each earning a score of 3.8. Countries emerging from conflict, such as Côte d'Ivoire, have shown clear improvement.
Rural 21 magazine: Family farming
Rural 21
Jun 2014
The most recent issue of the Rural 21 magazine is dedicated to family farming. There are around 525 million family farmers worldwide, and they account for well over half of all agricultural production. Family farms therefore play a crucial role in maintaining global food security. The online version of the magazine provides access to various thematic articles, including an interview with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva on "Family farms are key to feeding the world".
Rural 21 magazine: Family farming
Rural 21
Jun 2014
The most recent issue of the Rural 21 magazine is dedicated to family farming. There are around 525 million family farmers worldwide, and they account for well over half of all agricultural production. Family farms therefore play a crucial role in maintaining global food security. The online version of the magazine provides access to various thematic articles, including an interview with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva on "Family farms are key to feeding the world".
Not just in transit: drugs, the state and society in West Africa
WACD
Jun 2014
The West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD) is calling for the reform of drug laws and policies in the region. In a new report, the Commission warns that the production, consumption and trafficking of drugs is undermining institutions and development efforts – and so is the current approach to combatting drugs. The report urges governments to consider decriminalising low-level and non-violent offenses in order to alleviate pressure on criminal justice systems and allow law enforcement authorities to concentrate on major offenders. The WACD was initiated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan; it is chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
UEMOA-CIP Communiqué: assessing member countries’ electoral systems
UEMOA
May 2014
The 16th extraordinary session of the Inter-parliamentary Committee (CIP) will focus on the topic of “Assessing electoral systems of UEMOA member countries”.The CIP session aims to assess current electoral practices in order to ultimately advance towards harmonising electoral systems within UEMOA member countries and thereby rationalise electoral governance. The session will be held from 4-11 May in Lomé, in recognition of Togo’s commitment to deepening regional integration.
Curbing violence in Nigeria (II): the Boko Haram insurgency
International Crisis Group (ICG)
Apr 2014
The International Crisis Group (ICG) analyses the Boko Haram conflict that has killed thousands of people and displaced nearly a million in the past four years. The report presents the history and evolution of the movement and offers recommendations to the Nigerian government as well as its regional and international partners. As Boko Haram gains in strength and geographic reach, the ICG argues that a military response alone is unlikely to stem the violence. It calls for meaningful governance and political reforms to address the grievances that underpin Boko Haram recruitment.
UEMOA Communiqué on the Ouarokuy-Wanian cross-border health centre
UEMOA
Mar 2014
UEMOA officials consider the Ouarokuy-Wanian border health centre “an innovative model of regional integration”. Since February 2012, UEMOA has provided financial support for the facility, which benefits some 12 000 people in 14 villages in Burkina Faso and Mali.
Sierra Leone: nursing agriculture back to health
UN Africa Renewal
Mar 2014
Africa Renewal has published a special edition with an exclusive focus on agriculture. Articles address a wide range of issues from the impact of climate change to gender dynamics and creating employment to young people. This article on food security examines efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency in Sierra Leone. Strategies include boosting agricultural production but also encouraging rice-loving Sierra Leoneans to explore other options.
Integrated management of acute malnutrition programme and stocks report
UNICEF
Mar 2014
Covering the period of October-December 2013, the report summarizes IMAM programme activities and the supply chain of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and ready-to-use supplementary foods (RUSF) as well as the management of acute malnutrition programmes. IMAM programme activities were conducted in all ECOWAS countries (except Cape Verde), plus Chad, Mauritania and four Central African countries.
Issues of the Africa-Europe Summit on April 2014: A critical look at the Africa-Europe partnership
Africa Governance Institute
Sep 2013
The African Governance Institute (AGI) examines the relationship between Africa and Europe, seven years after the adoption of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES) and just months ahead of the next Africa-EU Summit. The AGI policy brief maintains that the JAES has largely failed to achieve its goal to reshape the relationship between Africa and Europe into a partnership of equals. In order to safeguard its interests, the paper argues that Africa must develop a coherent and unified position to present at the April 2014 Africa-EU Summit.
Patterns of adoption of improved rice technologies in Ghana
International Food Policy Research Institute
Jul 2013
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has published two working papers examining the factors behind the adoption of improved farming methods in Ghana. Researchers focused on two key crops for which average yields in Ghana fall well below the yields achieved in farm trials using inputs and improved technologies. The paper seeks to establish current technology adoption levels and determine the incentives and constraints behind farmers’ decisions.
Who Is Benefitting? The social and economic impact of three large-scale land investments in Sierra Leone
Christian Aid
Jul 2013
A new report from the international NGO Christian Aid presents a detailed examination of the “land grabbing” phenomenon in Africa through three case studies involving large-scale land acquisitions in Sierra Leone. Based on field research in ten communities impacted by the land deals, the paper aims to compare the experiences of local residents against the expected benefits of the investments.
Patterns of adoption of improved maize technologies in Ghana
International Food Policy Research Institute
Jul 2013
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has published two working papers examining the factors behind the adoption of improved farming methods in Ghana. Researchers focused on two key crops for which average yields in Ghana fall well below the yields achieved in farm trials using inputs and improved technologies. The papers seek to establish current technology adoption levels and determine the incentives and constraints behind farmers’ decisions.
UEMOA Communiqué, World Bank meeting
UEMOA
Apr 2013
UEMOA and the World Bank have pledged to increase collaboration on economic integration in West Africa. UEMOA Commission President Cheikhe Hadjibou Soumaré led a delegation to the spring meetings of the Bank and the International Monetary Fund from 19-21 April in Washington.
Humanitarian Bulletin: Chad
UNOCHA
Mar 2013
This Humanitarian Bulletin updates the food situation in Chad, which remains precarious in 2013 despite good harvests. Chad has doubled its cereal production during the 2012-2013 agricultural campaign. It is estimated at 3.8 million tonnes. Yet shortages are expected because households are likely to quickly exhaust the supplies before the lean season. The arrival of about 5 000 Sudanese refugees has further complicated the situation. Humanitarian agencies are struggling to find sufficient means to support relief efforts.
Improving statistics for food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development
AfDB
May 2011
The Action Plan for Africa for Improving Statistics for Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, and Rural Development has been developed in the framework of the Global Strategy for Improving Agricultural and Rural Statistics in order to respond to the declining quantity and quality of agricultural statistics in developing countries. It comprises three technical components i) technical assistance, ii) training iii) research, as well as a governance mechanism and a comprehensive and detailed country assessment.
Water for wealth and food security
International Water Management Institute
Aug 2012
With substantial increases in the numbers of smallholder farmers using small-scale irrigation techniques, this report offers donors, governments and farmers the opportunity to understand what kinds of agricultural water management (AWM) techniques can best benefit farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
UEMOA Commissioner of the Department of Rural Development, Natural Resources and the Environment’s visit to UEMOA sites in Guinea-Bissau
UEMOA
Author: UEMOA
Sep 2012
A UEMOA Commission delegation led by Ibrahima Diémé, Commissioner in charge of Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment visited Bissau from 20 to 24 August 2012, to examine the state of UEMOA sites in the country, in the areas of rural natural resources development.
UEMOA Inter-Parliamentary Committee Declaration 003 / CIP/2012 on the crises in Mali and Guinea-Bissau
UEMOA
Author: UEMOA
Aug 2012
West African Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) - Adoption
ECOWAS
Jan 2005
28th Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government adopting an Agricultural Policy for ECOWAS: ECOWAP aims to "contribute in a sustainable way in meeting the food needs of the population, to economic and social development, to reduction of poverty in member states, and thus reduce existing inequalities among territories, zones and nations." It covers all production of agriculture, livestock and fishing sectors, along with forestry and natural resource management.
Regional Agricultural Policy for West Africa (ECOWAP) - Synthesis note
ECOWAS
Dec 2008
This document gives a brief overview of the context, challenges, vision, objectives and main orientations of regional and national programmes. It also includes a short presentation ofthe regional Offensive for food production and against hunger, deployed in response to the crisis sparked by the price rises of 2007-2008.
West African Common Industrial Policy (WACIP)
ECOWAS
Jul 2010
WACIP's objectives are to accelerate the industrialisation of West Africa through the promotion of endogenous industrial transformation of local raw materials; development and diversification of industrial productive capacity, and the strengthening of regional integration and the export of manufactured goods. It is divided into ten programmes centred on specific key objectives, namely the diversification and widening of the industrial production base, increasing the contribution of the industrial sector in the region’s GDP from an average of 6-7% to 20% by 2030, considerably improving intracommunity trade from 12% to 40% in 2030, and the exports of manufactured goods from the region to the world market (from 0.1% to 1% in 2030).
ECOWAS Regional Competition Policy Framework
ECOWAS
Mar 2007
The ECOWAS Regional Competition Policy Framework document clarifies the basic elements of a competition policy and the form that it should take within the framework of regional integration.
New horizons on African trade
International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
Author: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development
May 2012
The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development’s new publication, “Bridges Africa,” a pan-African focused monthly periodical, presents expert analysis of multilateral trade, trade policies, export, and intra-African trade integration. In West Africa, trade policy inconsistencies can be attributed to differences between community level and regional structures, lack of harmonisation between UEMOA and ECOWAS policies, and non-compliance with international agreements. The authors demonstrate that increased intra-African trade could have major impacts on poverty reduction on the continent. In addition to various perspectives on African trade, “Bridges Africa” offers global news on international developments and promotes publications and resources related to trade policy.
Africa Progress Report 2012 - Jobs, Justice and Equity: Seizing Opportunities in Times of Global Change
Africa Progress Panel
Author: Africa Progress Panel
Jun 2012
The 2012 Africa Progress Report warns that Africa’s strong economic growth trajectory is at risk because of rising inequality and the marginalisation of whole sections of society. The report focuses on four key challenges: youth unemployment, smallholder agriculture, education, and global economic governance.
Benin: Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Poverty Reduction Strategy
OECD
Author: Camille-Alex Dagba, Axel Olearius, Karina Nikov, Hugo van Tilborg, Katrin Dobersalske, Gwen van Boven
Feb 2012
Benin takes part in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative and receives aid from the World Bank. The Agence Béninoise de l'Environnement (Beninese environmental agency) carried out a participatory Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper while it was being drafted. As a result, environmental issues are now covered in both a sectoral and a cross-cutting manner in the second PRSP. This chapter is part of the publication "
Strategic Environmental Assessment in Development Practice" (English).
UNDP Report Ghana: Towards a more inclusive society
UNDP
Feb 2007
The report examines the major drivers that influenced exclusion and the involvement of a more inclusive society. The report calls for further research in the area of development and implementation of advocacy programmes as well as policy planning and implementation.
Benin: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
IMF, World Bank, Government of Benin
Dec 2002
Building on lessons learned, the Poverty Reduction Strategy paper presents an overall strategy for combating poverty which is based on all dimensions of development.
World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development
World Bank
Author: World Bank
Sep 2011
The World Development Report 2012 focuses on gender equality. The analytical core of the Report constitutes a conceptual framework that examines the factors that have fostered change and the constraints that have slowed progress. The analysis focuses on the roles of economic growth, households, markets, and institutions in determining gender differences in education and health, agency, and access to economic opportunities. The World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development argues that closing gaps between opportunities for men and women is a core development objective in its own right. It is also smart economics. Greater gender equality can enhance productivity, improve development outcomes for the next generation, and make institutions more representative.
Burkina Faso: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
IMF, World Bank, Government of Burkina Faso
Jul 2004
Based on lessons learned, the government of Burkina Faso highlights the need to 1) complete economic and structural reform measures; 2) ensure more intensive mobilisation and more efficient and effective use of financial resources; 3) increase the focus of and speeding up reforms in the social sectors and 4) build a stronger partnership with civil society organisations.
African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
African Union
Aug 2011
The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption was adopted in Maputo on 11 July 2003. It represents regional consensus on what African states should do in the areas of prevention, criminalisation, international cooperation, mutual legal assistance and asset recovery. The Convention covers both public sector and private sector corruption, both supply and demand side, and a wide range of offences including bribery (domestic or foreign), diversion of property by public officials, trading in influence, illicit enrichment, money laundering and concealment of property. It is unique in containing mandatory provisions with respect to private-to-private corruption and on transparency in political party funding. Other strong points of the AU Convention are mandatory requirements of declaration of assets by designated public officials and restrictions on immunity for public officials (Art. 7) The AU Convention also gives particular attention to the need for the media to have access to information (Art. 12) The AU Convention provides for a Follow Up Mechanism involving an Advisory Board on Corruption within the African Union which is assigned a range of functions including research and collection of information, advice to governments and regularly reporting to the Executive Council on States Parties' progress in implementing the Convention drawing on annual reports to the Board by the various countries.
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
AU (OAU)
Jan 1990
Charter outlining the rights of African children, defined as people under the age of 18, including right to life, nationality, education and freedom of thought and religion.
